Thursday November 29, 2012

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THE APPALACHIAN TheAppalachianOnline.com

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Ombud to be added in spring

Vol. 87, No. 22

Tuition and fees proposed for 2013-14 budget

by JOSHUA FARMER Senior News Reporter

Starting in the spring, Appalachian State will add a University Ombudsman’s Office to provide a “neutral, impartial and confidential environment to discuss individual concerns of faculty, staff and students,” said Provost Lori Gonzalez in a written announcement.

The academic ombudsman will operate neutrally to confidentially resolve issues that may arise among the university’s community, according to the International Ombudsman Association.

The ombudsman may report to the provost on trends or patterns, which may require policy change, though Gonzalez said that the office’s format has not yet been finalized.

Jim Barnes has been appointed as the interim university ombudsman, according to the announcement from the provost.

Barnes was an interim ombudsman at Ohio University in the early 1970s and has worked at Appalachian as a government and justice studies professor since 1996.

Barnes said he will be the interim ombudsman while the office is created and established, but plans to retire after two years.

“I think because I have some experience with this that I can do something beneficial,” Barnes said. “I’m going to retire… so it’s my swan song.”

Barnes said he plans to speak with faculty, administration, housing staff and student groups, such as the Student Government Association, to introduce the office to the campus community.

“The idea was that spring semester would be dedicated to creating the office, that is, literally from scratch,” Barnes said.

“There is no place for it to be.

We’ve not talked about budget.

We’ve just talked about the idea of it.”

Barnes said that due to the confidential nature of the work done within the ombudsman’s office, it is difficult to assess if the office is working or not.

“If it works well, nobody will ever know,” Barnes said.

Barnes said that his main concern as ombudsman is students, but that he doesn’t know at this time whether more issues will arise with faculty and administration.

Barnes said that he would be open to dealing with parents as well, as well.

“If you have an issue, you don’t know what to do, I’m the person that you come to,” Barnes said. “There is no record kept except for in the office, and I cannot be called to testify. This is an office where you can come anonymously, and say, ‘I’ve got a problem. I don’t know how to deal with this. Somebody did this, and I don’t think that’s right,’” Barnes said. “Hopefully you can arrive at some kind of reconciliation where the parties understand the logic that’s involved and why things are done in a certain way.”

Gonzalez said that the need for the addition of the office came to light last year.

“I would say the events on campus last year reinforced the need for such a position,” Gonzalez said.

Barnes said that the office would likely open officially in late spring of 2013.

Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian

Chancellor Peacock speaks to SGA members at Tuesday night’s Senate meeting. The meeting addressed upcoming changes to tuition and campus, as well.

by JOSHUA FARMER Senior News Reporter

The Student Government Association heard a proposal Tuesday night for the 2013-14 budget, which would increase resident tuition the maximum-capped limit of 6.5 percent and non-resident tuition 2.5 percent.

Chancellor Kenneth Peacock reassured the students of the strength of their voice in the creation of the budget.

“What you say and that input that has come through the committee means a lot,” Peacock said. “Your opinion is important. I will do my best to get the proposal that comes from this campus implemented.”

SGA President Jake Cox said he and his staff were in meetings discussing the budget for five weeks leading up to the presentation of the proposal to SGA. The committee met six times over that period with meetings lasting between one and two hours.

“There was one main thing that was added to the whole budget, and that was the three athletic adviser positions,” Cox said.

The funding for the positions used to come from the state, and when the state cut it from their budget, the athletics department incurred the cost, Cox said. But now, the cost has been put on the students.

“I didn’t feel that this was the

time to add this,” Cox said. “My main issue with this is that this money isn’t being appropriated properly.”

The reasoning for moving the cost of the advisors, who would act as academic advisors for student athletes, is that it would raise a “red flag” to auditors, Cox said.

There is a fear auditors would suspect cheating and foul play regarding student athlete grades, Cox said.

The biggest change that did not make it into the current budget proposal is the 24/5 library, which would pay to keep Belk Library and Information Commons open for 24 hours Monday through Friday during the school

year, Cox said.

The SGA proposal allocated four percent of the total budget for this service, totaling $165,000 out of an over $4 million budget.

“It would cost $120,000, from 2 to 7 [a.m.], just to run the utilities, and it would cost $45,000 for three security guards,” Cox said. “We felt this was justified. If students want it, why can’t we ask for it, because this is all our money.”

SGA Treasurer Nate Wright said he thought if the budget was proposed earlier, there would have been more success.

“I wasn’t necessarily upset with the way that most of the money was allocated, except for a small portion of it where I felt like it could’ve been redirected toward re-establishing the [24/5] library,” Wright said.

Cox said the administration felt that too much money would be spent on the 24/5 library, which would not serve enough students to make it justifiable.

“They didn’t believe that there were enough students using the library at 3 a.m., at 4 a.m., at 5 a.m.,” Cox said.

Cox said he presented data that showed there were constantly 3040 students in the library at all hours, and that number increased to 50-60 during midterms and 80100 students during finals.

“You’re not going to see one student in there night after night at 4 a.m. doing homework,” Cox said.

“Those students that go there one night aren’t going to be the same that are there another night. In my mind, that’s a bigger benefit.”

The budget also accounts for money to re-establish 11 staff positions, which had been cut in previous years.

The budget will go to the Chancellor, who may revise it or present it as is to the Board of Trustees for approval in mid-December.

Christmas trees are area’s largest agricultural asset

by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY

Senior News Reporter

The start of the holiday season means the North Carolina Christmas tree industry is ready to help customers deck their halls.

Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Jackson, Buncombe and Mitchel County make up what is known as “Fraser fir country,” said Harry Yates, who has worked in the Christmas tree industry for 37 years.

Christmas trees are the “number one agricultural commodity” in this area of North Carolina, he said.

“Fraser fir country” ships five million trees within the United States, as well as to Canada and Mexico.

Despite the early snow

in Boone from Hurricane Sandy, Diane Cornett Deal of Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm said the snow actually helped the trees in the area.

“The trees love the cold weather,” Deal said. “The needles stay fresh longer.”

Tree farms sell their trees in one or two ways: wholesale or choose and cut.

“Wholesale is when a person orders a large quantity of trees to resale at a different location, such as a farmer’s market or retail lot,” said Burl Greene of Greene Tree Farm.

“Choose and Cut is when families or individuals come to our farm to select a Christmas tree for their house.”

Greene said wholesale sales have been low due to

a saturated market and the economy. But, choose and cut tree customers have given him “the best season yet.”

However, through the wholesale market, Greene’s farm recently shipped 23 trees to Rockefeller “to build the perimeter around the Christmas tree,” Greene said.

Howard Hughes sells Christmas trees from Triple R Farms at Wahoo’s Rafting.

Hughes said Christmas tree season is “normally the weekend before Thanksgiving to the weekend before Christmas.”

Although most of Hughes’ customers are from Raleigh, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, he said he has had two cus-

Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian

Howard Hughes works as a Christmas tree seller at Wahoo’s off of Highway 321. The christmas trees come from Triple R Farms, located in Boone.

tomers buy trees to take back to Illinois and Washington, D.C. Hughes said last year’s Christmas season was an improvement from the year

before, but sales were still lower than they were five years ago.

He said he hopes to sell between 300 and 500 Christmas trees this year.

Bacterial meningitis case confirmed in Watauga County

by MICHAEL BRAGG Editor-in-Chief

A case of bacterial meningitis was confirmed in Watauga County Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from the Appalachian District Health Department.

The patient is an Appalachian student who was admitted to an area hospital Monday evening. The name of the student and hospital has not been released.

Director of Student Health Services Dr. Bob Ellison has worked with the hospital and the patient and said the patient is stable and showing signs of improvement.

“What we understand is – the best information that everyone has

gathered – the student probably started getting sick while home at Thanksgiving, developed some symptoms on their return to campus on Sunday, got worse on Monday, chose not to go to class on Monday and roommate and friends took the student to the hospital for evaluation Monday evening,” Ellison said.

Students considered to be at risk for the disease because they were in close contact with the patient have been identified and are not sick but were given proper medication, according to the press release.

Ellison said the student, a freshman, received a meningococcal vaccination in June prior to coming to Appalachian but still fell ill.

“Probably what this means is that

one of the meningococcal family members, one of the members of that bacterial family that is not covered or not protected by the vaccine, was the cause,” Ellison said. “So the vaccine is highly effective, but it is not 100 percent effective.”

Symptoms of meningococcal disease include “sudden onset of fever, intense headache, nausea and frequent vomiting, stiff neck and sensitivity to light,” according to the press release.

Bacterial meningitis can be life threatening, Ellison said, but that has not been the case with this student.

“It can, in a matter of hours, cause a cascade or a domino type of chain reaction of total body shut down

where the lungs stop working, the kidneys stop producing urine, the blood pressure drops and the person, even though you’re doing all the right things intensively, the person is dying in front of your eyes,” he said. “Fortunately, that’s not the scenario with this student, and we’re so glad for that.”

Students who live in the same dormitory as the patient have been notified of the situation, educated on proper preventative techniques and were offered a one-time, oral antibiotic if they wanted one. Ellison said they gave out an antibiotic to 140 students.

Questions or concerns about the disease can be addressed to Health Services at 262-3100.

In the Nov. 15 issue of The Appalachian, the article “Petitions for U.S. states to secede is ‘ludicrous’” quoted political science professor Adam Newmark on the legal issues and implications of state secession. The petitions have no legal authority and the U.S. Constitution does not allow secession. The Appalachian apologizes for the error.

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News

| November 29, 2012

Energy shots cautioned during finals

by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY Senior News Reporter

The “energy shot” 5-Hour ENERGY is purchased year-round from Appalachian State University’s on-campus markets, and the product’s sales may have a small “uptick” during exam time, said Food Service Director Art Kessler.

But the “energy shot” has been a subject of controversy.

The New York Attorney General’s office is investigating claims received by the Food and Drug Administration that 5-Hour ENERGY may have been the cause of 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations in the past four years, according to abcnews.go.com.

“Caffeine is a nerve toxin,” said Program Director of Nutrition and Health Care Management Martin Root. “It affects lots of things, but it affects nerves and it can affect nerves of heart where it may have had its lethal effects.”

The people who are at risk for health problems when taking 5-Hour EN-

Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian

The popular energy drink 5-Hour ENERGY, bought and sold on campus, may be responsible for the deaths of 13 people and the hospitalization of 33, according to abcnews.go.com.

ERGY are people with heart problems, Root said.

However, he said it is not much of an issue for a person who is average and has a normal heart.

“Taking a shot like this

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is like drinking two cups of coffee in a row,” Root said. “I just did that this morning without worrying too much.”

Root said he is, however, skeptical of the other

ingredients in the drink.

The amount of the vitamin B12 is 80 times the recommended daily allowance.

Root advises students to just have a “more sensible study schedule” and that “coffee is certainly the safest thing to take.”

The company advises users not to drink more than two shots daily and to drink the two shots several hours apart. The website also cautions users to limit caffeine products to avoid nervousness, sleeplessness and occasional rapid heartbeat, according to 5-Hour ENERGY’s website.

5-Hour ENERGY has not been approved by the FDA, but is “stringently regulated,” according to 5-Hour ENERGY’s website.

Senior geography and planning major Reggie Adams said he has vowed to never use energy drinks.

“If people have managed going to universities for hundreds of years without using these products, you can probably make it through college as well without using [them],” Adams said.

The Appalachian

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

National chemistry exams help department

by KELLI STRAKA News Reporter

The university’s chemistry department has “consistently” fallen into the average score for the standardized exam given at the end of each semester when compared nationally, said chemistry professor Jennifer Cecile.

The chemistry department administers the exam through the American Chemical Society and the tests are paid for through the department’s budget, Cecile said.

The American Chemical Society, a nonprofit organization, is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information, with more than 164,000 members, according to their website.

The exams are given to both introduction to chemistry courses, organic and physical chemistry.

The exams have been in place for many years, Cecile said.

Since there are about 1,000 students in the introduction to chemistry classes and multiple professors, the standardized test helps the professors compare how well they teach, how much the students learn and how

the department is doing, Cecile said.

“This gives us an opportunity to see what our students learn and are knowledgeable about,” Cecile said.

Mike Hambourger, a chemistry professor, said it’s good to have a “uniform metric to judge the knowledge of the students.”

“Having a standardized test takes away the ambiguity of how a professor teaches,” Hambourger said.

Hambourger said that while it’s good the chemistry department has average test scores and it shows that students are learning, they can always work to improve.

The exam also proves that students coming from the chemistry department went through a “rigorous” course and placed well in the exam, he said.

Chemistry department lecturer Amanda Howell said the exam creates a base line to compare Appalachian’s chemistry department to others.

Howell said because the exam is standardized, the students can “feel confident” that they won’t take a test that’s any easier or harder than other sections.

“I think that that is beneficial,” Howell said.

Math professor crunches more than numbers

by KELLI STRAKA

“The reason I do that, first of all, it humanizes me,” Bossé said. “And for some of them, hopefully, it gets them As a math professor, Michael Bossé interested in exercising a little more than they do.” crunches numbers in the classroom.

Bossé said he’s not going to beat But in the gym, he crunches his abs.

When senior marketing major Ross students running or weight lifting any Brigman first met the 52-year-old, more, but this is one of those things Bossé asked Brigman if he had ever that’s “ever so fun.”

“When you get older, [exercise] has seen what 2,000 crunches looks like.

“And he goes and gets down on to be more a part of your life to mainthe ground, and 30 minutes later, tain your health,” Bossé said.

One morning, Brigman said he saw he’s done 2,000,” Brigman said. “He makes a lot of 21 and 22-year-olds go, Bossé do 5,000 crunches, which is the most he’s ever seen him do.

‘What the heck?’”

“At that point, I wasn’t surprised Bossé said sometimes students in his class will challenge him, but it’s any more,” Brigman said.

When Bossé does 5,000 crunches, usually something they only try once.

New Reporter

he said they can alternate from 100 crunches and 100 leg raises, but they are non-stop. In a recent workout, 5,000 crunches took Bossé 90 minutes.

“I even had a witness because no ever believes me,” Bossé said.

The most crunches Bosse has ever done was 7,000. However, he said he could probably do up to 10,000 crunches if he had three to four hours.

Hundreds of crunches are usually a light workout for him.

Bossé walks at least five to seven miles per week, does aerobic exercise for at least four to five hours per week and about five days per week he does some light work with weights.

A&E

The Appalachian

November 29, 2012 |

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

New Play Festival features aspiring playwrights

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by CONNOR CHILDERS Senior A&E Reporter

When senior theatre arts major Hillary Wheeless submitted her play “Auld Lang Syne” to be judged in the New Play Festival, she didn’t expect to be chosen.

In fact, she almost submitted nothing at all.

Now, she is among two other student playwrights whose works will be performed this weekend.

The New Play Festival is an annual event sponsored by Appalachian State University’s theatre club, Playcrafters. Each year, student-written one-act plays are chosen to be performed and directed by students. This year, three plays were chosen: “Auld Lang Syne” by Wheeless, “Dead Hearts” by Rachel Leishman and “The Conduit” by Morgan Stewart.

For Wheeless and Leishman, this is their first experience seeing one of their works being performed.

This is also the first play that Leishman, a junior theatre arts major, has ever written. “‘Dead Hearts’ is the story of Allie and Jamie,”

Paul Heckert | The Appalachian

Junior theatre arts major Paige Borden and senior recreation management major Jack Lafferty rehearse “Auld Lang Syne” by Hilary Wheeless, part of he New Play Festival. The festival features one-act plays written, directed and performed by students and will be preformed Thursday through Saturday in I.G Greer Studio.

Leishman said, “Two people who have known each other since they were kids, but Jamie was always too afraid to ask Allie out. It’s the journey of their relationship together and how things can really turn out way differently than anyone can imagine.”

Wheeless said her play “Auld Lang Syne,” directed by senior theater arts major

Melanie Miller, is about two acquaintances who are confronted with past conflicts while stranded in a subway station, the type of subject matter that Wheeless wouldn’t normally write about.

“When reading, I tend to gravitate toward fiction, fantasy in particular, and that’s had a huge influence on what I enjoy writing.

North Carolina Poetry Society hosts 80th anniversary readings

by LOVEY COOPER A&E Reporter

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the North Carolina Poetry Society, current North Carolina Poet Laureate and Appalachian professor Joseph Bathanti and other poets will present a poetry reading this Thursday at 3:30 p.m in the Scholars Bookshop in the University Bookstore.

Bathanti will read both old and new poems at the event alongside fellow professors and notable poets Lynn Doyle and Hilda Downer.

“I want to say how much I admire Lynn Doyle’s and Hilda Downer’s poetry and I’m proud to be reading with them,” Bathanti said.

Following the reading is an “open mic” style presentation of poetry by students, faculty and community members.

All are encouraged to bring material and participate.

Bathanti, a professor of creative writing, director of the Writing in the Field program and writer-in-residence of Watauga Global Community, took the office of Poet Laureate in September of this year after being given the position

by Gov. Bev Perdue.

His personal long-term mission as the seventh Poet Laureate of North Carolina is to extend his influence to veterans in order to help in sharing their experience through literature.

According to the North Carolina Po-

etry Society, “the North Carolina Poet Laureate acts as an ambassador of N.C. literature, using the office as a platform from which to promote N.C. writers and the potentially transformative qualities of poetry and the written word.”

The North Carolina Poetry Society began in 1932 with six members, but has since expanded to include over 370 poets all over North Carolina, working on an all-volunteer basis. The organization holds three meetings a year, as well as hosts a variety of literature competitions and awards throughout the year.

Bathanti sees the North Carolina Poetry Society as an essential aspect of the literary arts in the state.

“It has supplied the state of N.C. with grassroots advocacy for poets and poetry for the better part of a century,” Bathanti said.

This event is taking place in tandem with other readings throughout North Carolina over the course of the next month. Other events feature readings by former Poet Laureates and notable North Carolinians.

“I’d of course want students to take away from the event a new appreciation of poetry, that it is every bit as engaging and entertaining as prose - and often embodies the same narrative heft - and that seeing and hearing poets read their work in person brings that work to life,” Bathanti said.

The event is free and open to the public.

‘Auld Lang Syne’ has a bit of a different focus from what I usually am interested in,” Wheeless said, “I recently watched ‘Kill Bill’ again and I realized it definitely had a subconscious influence on me when I was writing; there are a lot of parallels.”

She attributes its inclusion in the festival to the encouragement of Derek

Paul Heckert | The Appalachian

Freshman English major Kate Sabet and sophomore theater arts major Jake Dailey rehearse “Dead Hearts”

by Rachel Leishman, a part of The New Play Festival.

Davison, who taught the playwriting class in which “Auld Lang Syne” was written.

“I wouldn’t even have submitted it to the festival

without his encouragement,” Wheeless said.

The plays will be performed Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the I.G. Greer Studio Theatre.

Find Yosef a Holiday returns Friday

by EMMA SPECKMAN Senior A&E Reporter

The Multicultural Development Center is throwing its annual Find Yosef a Holiday festival Friday for everyone on campus to attend.

The event offers food, entertainment, activities and the opportunity to learn about international celebrations during this holiday season.

“It’s an ongoing tradition,” said Samantha Beskin, a graduate assistant for the Multicultural Development Center. “I think it’s even been going on longer than the center has been in existence, which is over 20 years.”

The room will be set up with booths for each of the 21 holidays represented this year. At each booth, representatives will have an informative poster and food or some other item to represent their chosen holiday.

Individual students, faculty members, clubs and organizations who wished to be involved in Find Yosef a Holiday were asked

to fill out a registration form listing their top three holiday choices and the reasons why they wish to be involved.

Guests are encouraged to visit and talk to representatives from all 21 booths.

“If they go to all of them and get each signed they get a goody bag,” Beskin said.

Aside from the “big three,” Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, in past years the fair has included more obscure holidays, like Irish St. Stephens Day, Hmong New Year and The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

This year, as in years past, the Jewish Student Association Hillel will have a booth for Hanukkah, complete with snacks, storytelling and a Dreidel.

“It’s very interesting to see how many people actually have no idea that a Hanukkah story even exists, so it’s really fun for us to tell the story to the participants,” said Hillel President Lauren Fine.

Fine and the other volunteers from Hillel plan to

play a game at their booth in order to teach guests what the Dreidel and the Hebrew letters on it represent.

“Hanukkah is one of the most fun Jewish holidays, and it’s great to share our traditions with everyone,” she said.

The World Religions Club will be presenting Egyptian Coptic Christmas, a Christmas celebration that falls on a different day on the Coptic calendar than it does on the Gregorian calendar that most Western nations follow.

Kwanzaa will be absent from the festival this time around, since the Black Student Association’s annual Kwanzaa festival falls two days before Find Yosef a Holiday this year.

Instead, BSA will be representing the Moravian Love Festival, a potluckstyle celebration that traces its roots to the Agape feast of the early church.

The event is free to the public and begins at 7 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union

Reviews on the web

Visit TheAppalachianOnline.com under the Arts and Entertainment section to see the full reviews

‘¡Dos!’ - Green Day ‘Life of Pi’ - Ang Lee

by LOVEY COOPER

Rating:

2 out of 4 stars

by EMMA SPECKMAN

by COLIN MOORE

A&E Reporter

The second in the anticipated three-part series is jumbled, confused and generally inaccessible to listeners. These songs often sound like either rejects from their side project, “Foxboro Hottubs,” or bizarre mixes between their typical rock and other seemingly random genres, like rap or 1950s rockabilly.

They’re definitely experimenting, but too much of this album either does not work or sounds like filler.

‘Paradise’ - Lana Del Rey Senior A&E Reporter

Intern A&E Reporter

Ang Lee’s stunning adaptation of Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi” does almost everything right. For technicality alone, the movie deserves every accolade, setting a new standard for the cinematic 3D experience. “Life of Pi” is an immensely enjoyable experience, breaking new ground in 3D filmmaking and cinematography while at the same time providing a powerful, deceptively complex adaptation of Martel’s moral fable.

Rating:

3.5 out of 4 stars

One of the songs on Lana Del Rey’s new EP legitimately begins with the line, “My p---y tastes like Pepsi.” The flaws of “Paradise” are the same as the flaws of “Born to Die” -- excessive use of clichés in the effort to portray Del Rey’s alcohol issues, parent problems and love of all things Americana. But somehow, she makes it work. The major consensus for “Paradise” is that it isn’t going to gain Lana any new fans, but it isn’t going to alienate any of her old ones, either.

Rating:

3 out of 4 stars

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| November 29, 2012

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Official University News & Announcements

Meeting Notes

Send copy to David W. Freeman, Director of Student Publications, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, second floor, Plemmons Student Union, or e-mail: freemandw@appstate.edu.

Spring Counseling Center groups

Understanding Self and Others Group—Issues commonly addressed vary from depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, issues of family conflict or abuse, etc. Students who want to resolve specific concerns as well as those seeking personal growth are welcome. Mondays 1:30-3 p.m., Tuesdays 1:30-3 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. USOGet Moving (moving your body to increase wellness- see below for details), Wednesdays 2:30-4 p.m., Thursdays 1:30-3 p.m. (Transitions to ASU Group, doesn’t start until October) and USO-DOG 3:30-5 p.m. (group Therapy with co-leaders and a therapy dog) Lesbian/Gay /Bisexual Therapy Group—This group will present an opportunity for lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals to explore life challenges. Fridays 1-2:30 p.m.

Painful Pasts, Promising Futures Group—This group is designed for those who have experienced traumatic events in their lives or who come from backgrounds in which they did not feel safe. Wednesdays 3-4:30 p.m.

Transgender Therapy Group—This group is similar to the “Understanding Self and Others” group in that a variety of issues will be explored in a safe and supportive environment.

Wednesdays 5-6:30 p.m. (For information contact Sheri Clark: 262-3180 or clarksl@appstate.edu) Food/Mood Group—This group is designed for students who use food and/or exercise to cope in ways that would be considered “unhealthy”. To Be Determined.

An Introduction to Mindfulness Group—Mindfulness involves stepping out of “auto-pilot” reactions and learning to pay more attention to our present experiences. Mondays 3:30-5 p.m.

USO-Get Movin’ Active Bodies Healthy Minds—Did you know that exercise is one of the best mental health interventions we know of? Tuesdays 3-4:30 p.m.

To get started with a Counseling Center group, come to the Counseling Center during Walk-In Clinic, call 262-3180 or visit our website for more information www.counseling. appstate.edu. If you are interested in group but these times do not work for you, please get in touch with Chris Carden at 262-3180 or cardendc@appstate.edu.

Music therapy group at Wellness

Are you looking for support in making a lifestyle change or recovery regarding alcohol, substance use, or other addictive behaviors? Music therapy may help you in this journey!

No musical training or experience is needed, and a variety of musical experiences will be used. For more information, call 262-3148, or come by the ASU Student Wellness Center, 2nd Floor Annas Support Building, beside Health Service), starting in October, date and time TBD.

New tool to aid students to plan

DegreeWorks, a web-based academic advising and degree audit tool, is now available to students at Appalachian State University. It is an academic planning tool with real-time counseling capabilities, giving students meaningful and consistent direction and providing advisors and student records managers with up-to-date curriculum information.

With a theme of “Finish in Four,” the Division of Academic Affairs has implemented the degree audit tool for students in response to a request from the Student Government Association to help students navigate curriculum requirements and keep them on track towards completing their college degree in four years.

“We believe DegreeWorks will empower students to assume more responsibility for taking the appropriate classes required in their intended major,” said Susan Davies, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at Appalachian.

“This online tool makes degree requirements more transparent for the student, which will free up time in their advising appointments to focus on career aspiration rather than asking ‘What classes do I need to take,’” she said.

DegreeWorks allows students to explore “what if” scenarios, such as how a change in their major will impact the number of additional courses that will be required to graduate in four years.

Freshmen who entered Appalachian this fall learned about DegreeWorks during summer orientation. Rather than keeping up with paper degree checklists used in the past, they and other students will have access to their program of study 24 hours a day through the web-based program.

In the next year, additional options will be added to DegreeWorks. Students will have an opportunity to create a fouryear plan using a curriculum planning tool, and academic departments will be able to use that information to better understand demand for certain classes when they are creating departmental class schedules.

More information about DegreeWorks is available at http:// degreeworks.appstate.edu.

Register for the Gobbler 5K Race

Registration is now open for the Gobbler 5K, a race scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8:30 a.m. at Duck Pond Field.

The cost is $16 and includes: race day t-shirt; warm cobbler; entertainment. All proceeds support International ServiceLearning Scholarships (ACT) and the Community Care Clinic.

For more information contact Jessica Blanford, blanfordjl@ appstate.edu.

Logo, Video contest; Win money!

Appalachian’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Marketing Team is hosting two contests for Appalachian students, a logo and video contest. The contests provide opportunities for students to exhibit their artistic abilities while helping to advertise Appalachian’s Global Learning QEP. The QEP’s theme is “Global Learning: A World of Opportunities for Appalachian Students.” Prizes are: First place, $500; Second place, $300; Third place: $200.

The logo must convey the spirit of Appalachian and global learning. The emphasis is on global learning opportunities here on campus. The use of the phrase “Global Learning” within the logo is at your discretion. It is not mandatory.

Entrants can use official Appalachian marks from the virtual toolbox, but must not alter them in any way. Official Guidelines.

Logos must have all original content; contestants cannot use unauthorized, copyrighted material. Both full color and black and white versions of the logo must be submitted. Logo images must be scalable from thumbnail to billboard size. The contest is open only to current Appalachian students. Students may enter individually, or in a group of no more than two students (this includes undergraduate and graduate students).

A Service of the Division of Student Development

All logos become the property of Appalachian State University upon submission.

Complete an entry form and submit your logo via email to Terri Lockwood at lockwodtl@appstate.edu or send DVD submissions to Terri Lockwood, 1028 Anne Belk Hall. Submissions are due by 5 p.m., Nov. 30.

The video must convey the spirit of Appalachian and global learning. The emphasis is on global learning opportunities here on campus. Describe what the QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) is and why it is important.

The contest is open only to current Appalachian students.

Students may enter individually or in a group of no more than four students (this includes undergraduate and graduate students). Only one submission per individual/group. Videos must comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Videos must have all original content, music, images, etc.; contestants cannot use unauthorized, copyrighted material. The video should not be longer than two minutes or shorter than 30 seconds. Please do not submit videos produced via cellphones - submissions will be judge on video quality. All videos become the property of Appalachian State University upon submission.

Complete the entry form and email videos to lockwodtl@appstate.edu or send a DVD to Terri Lockwood, 1037 Anne Belk Hall. Submissions are due by 5 p.m., Dec. 7.

Who’s Who nominations underway

Each year, Appalachian State University participates in the Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges Program.

This program recognizes students for academic and leadership excellence. Students are selected for this honor based on the following criteria: scholarship abilities, participation and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship and service to the community and Appalachian State University, and potential for future achievement.

Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have earned at least 75 semester hours prior to fall semester, 2012; have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50; and have not been previously elected to Who’s Who are eligible for nomination. The selection procedure offers students the opportunity to nominate themselves.

The nomination form is located at www.studentdev.appstate. edu by choosing Leadership and Service Awards, and then selecting Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges.

All nominations must be submitted electronically.

Nominations close at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30. If you have questions, please contact Micki Early, rggsbmg@appstate.edu, or 262-2060 in the Office of Student Development.

Pay attention to spring bill dates

Planning on attending ASU in the spring? As you register for classes for the spring 2013 semester here are some dates to mark on your calendar. The initial spring bills were emailed on Nov. 20 with a due date of Jan. 3, 2013. Cancellation for non-payment will occur on Jan. 4, 2013. For payment options visit the Student Accounts website at www.studentaccounts. appstate.edu. If you will be receiving financial aid or third party payments make sure you have completed all related requirements to insure you receive credit on your account.

King Commemoration set for Jan. 22 An Evening with Maya Angelou: The 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at 7 p.m. at the Holmes Center. The event is free and open to the public.

During the 1950s and 60s, Civil Rights Movement leaders like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired millions to stand up against social injustice. The Movement’s message of nonviolence and civil disobedience would inspire pivotal events like the lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro; the bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala.; the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.; the freedom rides throughout the South; the march to Montgomery; and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Dr. Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves; Dr. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically with vigor, fire and perception. She has the unique ability to shatter the opaque prisms of race and class between reader and subject throughout her books of poetry and her autobiographies.

Dr. Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, was raised in segregated rural Arkansas. She is a poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. She lectures throughout the U.S. and abroad and is a lifetime Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina since 1981.

She has authored twelve best-selling books and numerous magazine articles earning her Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. In 1993, Angelou became the second poet in US History to have the honor of writing and reciting original work at the Presidential Inauguration. On the Pulse of Morning, at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration, was an occasion that gave her wide recognition for which she was awarded a Grammy award (best spoken word).

Dr. Angelou’s visit to Appalachian is made possible by the Office of Multicultural Student Development with generous support from the Performing Arts Series, the Office of Equity Diversity and Compliance and the Women’s Studies Program.

URec offers Red Cross swim session

Appalachian State University Recreation is getting ready for its American Red Cross Learn to Swim Session. The program offers children of Boone and the surrounding community the opportunity to learn the basics of swimming, or improve their existing swimming skills in a safe environment. All of the classes are taught by qualified and experienced instructors. Group lessons are offered for all skill levels and ages six months and up. Classes are small so that your child can receive individual attention when needed, while still having fun with other children of similar age and ability. Register for sessions now. Session I is from Feb. 18 to March 20. Session II is from April 8 to May 2. Courses offered include: Infant/Toddler Swim; Preschool Swim; School Age Swim (shallow and deep water). Classes will be held in the Appalachian State University Student rEcreation Center Natatorium. Class days and times vary depending on the level of your swimmer: see website.

For registration forms, fee information, and class times, please visit us online at www.aquatics.appstate.edu.

It’s that time of year again!

The Appalachian State University Staff Senate’s annual “Give A Family A Coat” drive began Nov. 19, and will run through Friday, Dec. 14. “Gently used” coats of all sizes (infants, toddlers, children, teens, men, women) are being collected for

distribution to area families that need winter clothing. Donated coats will be delivered to the Hunger & Health Coalition of Boone, as well as other area non-profits, where they will be distributed free of charge to local families in need.

And, in support of the Watauga Humane Society, we’re running the “Give A Dog A Blanket” drive during the same period.

We’re collecting blankets for the local adoption center. Fleece works best as it washes well and dries quickly, but WHS will gratefully accept any kind and any size. Please deposit them in the same collection boxes as the coats and we will sort.

Help us keep all those lonely dogs, cats and bunnies warm!

Collection Site locations and contacts are: Conference & Camp Services - Andrea Mitchell; NCACHE - Kerri Wolfe; Hayes School of Music - Sydney Dehus; University Housing - Shelia Burleson; Founders Hall - Courtney Gainey; Registrar’s Office, 1st Floor - Patty Dale; New College of Education Building, 6th Floor - Lynn Church, Kathy Thomas & Jamy Lambert; Sanford Hall, 2nd Floor (Languages Location) - Cindy Trivette; Rankin, 2nd Floor (Biology) - Debi Tibbett; Business Affairs Annex - Vickie Young; BB Dougherty - Jackie McInturff & Kathy Tester; Edwin Duncan - Dee Pelliccio; Belk Library - Russell Paige; CIS (Raley Hall) - Chelsie Eldreth; ASU Bookstore - Betsy Craft; TSS - Greg Ragan & Kevin Snook; Art (Wey Hall) - Teresa Bentley.

Chili Fest offers unlimited tastings

The Appalachian State University ACT Chili Fest will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Legends from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $3 for students and $5 for ASU faculty and staff. The Chilli Fest includes: unlimited chili tastings, beverage, and dessert. There will also be a Silent Auction for various gift cards, App Ski Mtn and Grandfather Mountain tickets, and more! All proceeds support international service schlarships.

Appalachian Allies training Dec. 7

The LGBT Center announces the Fall 2012 Appalachian Allies training sessions Friday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the student union. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis until each session is full. Appalachian State University is committed to fostering a learning community where the value and dignity of all persons is celebrated. Through education, advocacy programs and networking, the Appalachian Allies program exists to promote an open and affirming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons by establishing a recognizable network of trained allies who provide support and information to the community. Any person, regardless of orientation, can be an Appalachian Ally.

App Allies training is open to all faculty, staff and students.

Additional training sessions will be offered in Spring 2013. For more information go to http://glbt.appstate.edu/.

BFA Senior Studio exhibition

The Catherine J. Smith Gallery (CSG) at Appalachian State University will present the BFA Senior Studio Fall 2012 exhibition Dec. 7 – Jan. 12, 2013, at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on campus.

Artists represented will be Molly L. Belada, Alexandra B. Cirulis, Randall Dameron, Jessi Galloway, Tia Nicole, Katherine J. Haugen, Lauren Jordan, Rachel Kirk, Adam Hamilton Mackay, Emily Parrish, Savella C. Smeraski and Caroline Tippette.

For the past year, these students have worked with Christopher Curtin, professor in the Department of Art. “The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition at the Turchin Center for Visual Arts provides the Department of Art, the Boone community, family and friends an opportunity to view works created to earn this degree and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating BFA Studio students,” Curtin said. “The works of these young artists address a wide range of their artistic concerns in diverse media and processes. I am very confident that this show will be an exciting group exhibition and a moment of pride for participating artists and the art department.”

A reception for the BFA Senior Studio Fall 2012 exhibition will be Saturday, Dec. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Turchin Center located on King Street in downtown Boone.

Catherine J. Smith Gallery is closed for renovations through August 2013. Exhibitions and programs will take place during this time at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Belk Library and Information Commons, Plemmons Student Union and other locations on campus unless otherwise noted.

2012 Multicultural programming Fall Programs Friday, Nov 30, Blue Ridge Ballroom, 5 p.m., Find Yosef a Holiday Festival. This fair-style event offers an “a la carte menu” of the images, sounds, foods, and activities that represent winter holidays from around the world. Attendees will learn in fun and interactive ways about many international holidays, cultures and customs.

Spring 2013 Programs Tuesday, January 22, 2013, Holmes Center, 7 p.m., The 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration: An Evening with Maya Angelou. Dr. Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves; Dr. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically with vigor, fire and perception. Dr. Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis was raised in segregated rural Arkansas. She is a poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. She lectures throughout the U.S. and abroad and is a lifetime Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina since 1981.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, Blue Ridge Ballroom, 7 p.m. “Hidden Voices: The Lives of Queer Muslims.” Participants will learn about sexual and gender minorities within the Muslim world and examine the complex intersection of Islam, sexuality and gender.

Faisal Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. At age 19, while trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, Faisal organized the firstever gathering of LGBT Muslims, which led to the founding of Al-Fatiha, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex & questioning (LGBTIQ) Muslims, and their allies. Today, Al-Fatiha has sister organizations around the world including Canada, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine & Indonesia.

OPINION

The Appalachian

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com November 29, 2012 |

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

THE APPALACHIAN Your student newspaper since 1934 MICHAEL BRAGG

STAFF OPINION

‘War on Christmas’ is unfounded and ignorant

Editor-in-Chief

ANNE BUIE

Managing Editor

ABBI PITTMAN Copy Editor

CHELSEY FISHER News Editor

R. SCOTT MORRIS A&E Editor

KEVIN GRIFFIN Opinion Editor

MAGGIE COZENS Photo Editor

MALIK RAHILI Graphics Editor

LIBBY DALLIS Video Editor

Contact Information EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 FAX LINE (828) 262-6256 Associated Collegiate Press

5

KEVIN GRIFFIN Though Christmas is thought of as a time of peace and camaraderie, certain, typically conservative, Christian organizations continue to insist that there is a “War on Christmas.”

This supposed “War on Christmas” is often touted by organizations such as Fox News and the American Family Association as consisting of secular social influences expurgating the

traditional idea of Christmas.

This assertion is incorrect on both counts. It assumes not only a false concept of traditional Christmas, but also a puerile, wrong-headed notion of a secular assault on the holiday.

At many points in Christian history, the Christmas holiday has proven to be a contentious subject. Going back to the early days of our own country, the Puritans forbade Christmas celebration for a number of years because of associations the holiday had with the Anglican Church.

Other controversies over the holiday’s pagan elements and differing denominational interpretation of Christianity have made the holiday far from

non-controversial.

There goes the traditional idea of Christmas.

But what of the claim that Christmas as a Christian holiday is being undermined?

It is here that the “Christmas warriors” showcase their most offputting trait: a childish sense of entitlement over the culture of this country.

Look at the primary evidence they bring out to support their claims: anecdotes of retailers omitting Christmas messages from sales campaigns, and atheist and civil liberties groups challenging public religious monuments or activity in schools.

The argument against retailers is odd. The replacement of “Merry Christmas” with “Happy

Holidays” is a result of the capitalism that many of these conservatives advocate.

To gain customers, companies try to be inclusive; that’s how the system functions.

More problematic is the religious point. As an atheist and civil libertarian, I believe such displays are acceptable so long as they are privately funded and allow participation from all groups.

Often time, they are not willing to abide by these conditions. Some religious displays have appeared with government subsidy, and uproars are raised when other groups bid for inclusiveness.

This all boils down to dissatisfaction on the part of these “Christmas war-

riors.” The country is changing in ways many Christian conservatives oppose. They seem to resent the fact that they cannot have dominance in our culture.

No one has that right, especially those as demonstrably ignorant as the people who pursue this tactic every year.

Christmas as a holiday is doing fine, surveys in the last few years show the majority of the country celebrates Christmas.

However, the same cannot be said for the “Christmas warriors,” whose pathetic whining is receiving much of the derision it deserves.

Griffin, a freshman journalism major from Madison, is the opinion editor.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for reader's opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff, and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and insure its First Amendment rights.

Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments.

Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.

STAFF OPINION

No shame in ‘slut’

Andrew Cox | The Appalachian

STAFF OPINION

Gerrymandering undermines the political system AUSTIN MANN LIPS, an area zine that seeks to bring sexual conversation into modern discourse, held their “Ask a Slut” event in Plemmons Student Union Wednesday.

During this event, LIPS members tried to start conversations with passersby to inform them of issues regarding slut shaming and sexual double standards.

It is somewhat annoying to me to hear the word “slut” being used on campus as a derogatory term.

Since when did having sex, even a lot of sex, become a bad thing?

This is due to the double standard that men should be doing everything in their power to have sex, while women are somehow demonized for doing the same thing.

What sort of standard is this?

This is simply a holdover from the days of chivalry, when women were pure figures and men were tough and, most importantly, manly.

Perhaps a better analysis is that this was a time when women were property and were not allowed to have relations of their own. If “my woman” went around town with all the other guys, then who is to say that my children were really mine? Who is to say that the property I pass along to them has stayed in the family?

It is time that people stop shaming women for breaking this double standard, which doesn’t deserve to exist in the first place.

Mann, a freshman computer science major from Raleigh, is an opinion writer.

KENT VESHAW The results of the 2012 election were a clear victory for the status quo.

President Barack Obama was re-elected, the Senate remained with the Democrats and the House was still Republican.

However, the popular vote showed a different story: the Democrats won all three.

So what’s the deal? How did the Republicans lose the popular vote

for the House and still keep it?

This is partially because Democratic voters tend to be more concentrated in cities, which tend to marginalize their voters. However, The Economist reports that another large contributor to the Republican victory was the new district lines that were drawn – a process known as gerrymandering – in 2010 by the largely Republican House.

Gerrymandering is a serious problem, mainly because it’s so hard to quantify. While we can say that “we know it when we see it,” like in the case of North Carolina’s own District 12 that sprawls across the map seemingly at random, this just isn’t a good system on which to base policy.

After all, no matter how the lines get drawn, one party or the other will probably complain after the

results are in. How can you come up with an objective, bias-free system for determining congressional districts when any kind of drawing of the boundaries is inherently subjective?

The obvious solution is to move to a system of election without specific congressional districts, where representation is precisely proportional to the popular vote.

However, this system defeats one of the main advantages of the House: those specific representatives are tied to their districts. This allows for a more personal representation in Congress that most people wouldn’t want to give up.

In a perfect world, Congress wouldn’t want to gerrymander. After all, it taints a victory.

Republicans may have control of the House right now, but it’s because of gerrymandering. If they

had more self-respect, they should lose gracefully than win with dirty tactics. This applies to both parties, but it just so happens that Republicans are the most current example.

But that’s a pipe dream. As long as politicians have the power to determine district lines, gerrymandering is going to exist.

So why not outsource, like we’ve done with the Federal Reserve? The only solution, I think, is to make creating congressional district lines the responsibility of a non-partisan committee of professionals appointed and approved by Congress.

But Congress isn’t likely to do that either. Unless their constituents demand it, giving up power isn’t their first priority.

Veshaw, a sophomore creative writing and mathamatics major from Apex, is an opinion writer.

STAFF OPINION

NFL’s helmet rules unfairly punish defensive players

RYAN SCOTT Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was suspended for one game for an illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders last week.

Reacting to the initial suspension of Reed,

Steelers safety Ryan Clark, tweeted, “tough on Ed getting suspended.

I can’t say I agree with that. It was a penalty, but I don’t believe he was intentionally trying to harm Emmanuel.”

The suspension was later appealed and reduced to a $50,000 fine, but even that is too much.

While I do not believe the National Football League should encourage dangerous play, suspending and fining players who are doing what they have been taught to do is taking things too far.

Rule 12, section 2, article 8 of the official NFL rulebook states it is illegal for a player to use “any part of his helmet... or facemask to butt, spear or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily.”

This is a rule that should be in place, but the NFL and referees do not realize this puts unrealistic expectations on defensive players.

Based on the way the rule is currently implemented, defensive players are at a disadvantage because they are forced to make split second cor-

rections to account for offensive players’ movement.

With the recent focus on reducing concussions in the league, I understand they are trying to make the game safer for the players.

“I know concussions has been a big thing. I’ve had concussions before, and I know guys are going to have concussions,” Reed said in an article for ESPN. “If you want to stop it, stop the game.”

What those enforcing the rules forget is that football is an inherently

dangerous game.

“It is tackle football. It is a contact sport and a brutal one,” Reed said in the same article.

I’m not advocating dangerous play, nor am I a fan of seeing players get hurt. What I am a fan of, though, is defensive players being allowed to properly do their job and not be hamstrung by draconian enforcement of the rules.

Scott, a sophomore computer science major from Huntersville, is an opinion writer.

6

Sports

| November 29, 2012

The Appalachian

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

QUIDDITCH

QC Carolinas is first N.C. Quidditch team to attend World Cup

By ANDREW CLAUSEN Senior Sports Reporter

E

ver since J.K. Rowling first introduced the world to Quidditch back in 1997, the sport has since taken great leaps from the page to reality.

Thanks largely to the International Quidditch Association, which connects teams around the world and organizes tournaments, Quidditch is now played internationally, with the culmination coming up at the World Cup in Florida this April.

Last year, 100 teams from five countries participated in the tournament in New York, where the sport’s founding university Middlebury College defeated the University of Florida for the Cup. This year, in the sixth annual World Cup, several players from Appalachian State University’s own Quidditch team will compete in Florida with Quidditch Club Carolinas, which pulls talented players from a pool of teams across the Carolinas.

Freshman psychology major Casey Brawn, who plays beater for Appalachian, also plays on QC Carolinas. She said the team is dedicated.

“Our performance to get us into the World Cup at regionals was amazing, and none of the players on QC Carolinas have played together as a team up until that point but for the players that are from App

State,” Brawn said.

Sophomore chaser Greg Astolfi said this is the first year that teams have had to qualify for the World Cup. “Anyone who was interested in going to the World Cup must compete in a regional tournament, and only the top ranked teams could qualify to go,” Astolfi said. “Our team is part of the MidAtlantic Region, and at our regional tournament the top eight teams out of 19 made it to the World Cup.” QC Carolinas finished eighth and is the first North Carolina-based team to go to the Cup. For those who aren’t sure what Quidditch is all about, alumnus Nathan Love describes it as “a cross between rugby and basketball.”

Quidditch in the real world is much like Quidditch in the “Harry Potter” novels. Only instead of flying, players run around on broomsticks.

That may sound absurd to some, but the sport is fast-paced and “full contact,” Love said.

“I should know. I’ve had a concussion, broken foot, torn meniscus and other minor things,” he said.

According to Love, QC Carolinas is composed of players from ASU, UNCCharlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, University of Richmond, Enloe High School in Raleigh and Wake Technical Community College, most of which have their own

Photo Courtesy | Amy Nicewick

Appalachian sophomore chaser Chris Flannigan runs the quaffle down the pitch during the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament.

teams.

Brawn said she felt the sport was growing at a fast rate.

“Before I went to Appalachian, the only thing about Quidditch I knew is that it was from the book “Harry Potter,” and that a few friends and I were laughing at the thought of it being an actual game,” Brawn said.

“Now, many high schools are also creating Quidditch teams, and there is a variation of it called Kidditch for small children. So the sport is even becoming wellknown to people who have not even read the ‘Harry Potter’ books.”

With the World Cup approaching, QC Carolinas will need to prepare to

face off against their tough competition. But the team has already come very far.

Love said he couldn’t put into words what it meant to him to be a part of a World Cup-qualifying team.

“I called my dad in tears for about the first time ever to let him know,” Love said. “It’s about five years of playing to get to

this point to put together a team with the interest and drive to make it to the biggest event the sport has to offer.”

The World Cup will take place in Kissimmee, Fla. on April 13 and 14.

QC Carolinas is currently searching for sponsors for the estimated $7,500 in expenses they need to attend.

BASKETBALL

Sophomore guard overcomes ACL injury to power through 2012-13 season

by KAITLYN THRUSTON Senior Sports Reporter

Prior to coming to Boone, Jessica Barrios, a sophomore guard, spent most of her childhood moving around to different countries and states.

She finally ended up in Miami, Fla., where she played basketball for Miami Beach high school. Barrio was a two-year letter winner and made the Miami Dade North all-star team.

Once at Appalachian, Jessica played in 21 games and made one start her freshman year.

“I feel like I got the opportunity to play in a great program and be on a beautiful campus with great academics,” Barrios said. “It’s a complete package, I couldn’t be happier.”

But heading into her sophomore year at Appalachian, Barri-

Photo Courtesy of Dave Mayo

Barrios (4) plays defense against Western Carolina in 2010.

os tore her ACL during practice.

Most players would be devastated after getting such an injury, but never one to be deterred, Barrios took the injury in stride.

“The injury just allowed me to

experience another side of being an athlete,” Barrios said. “It was a setback, but I always said ‘minor setback, a major comeback.’”

The road back to health was a long one, but with rehab and help

from her coaches and trainers, it was nothing but an obstacle on her path.

“Really, Jess did this all on her own,” said head coach Darcie Vincent. “She pushed her [the athletic trainer] every day last year to say ‘get me back.’ The fact that she’s playing this year without a brace is a tribute to who she is.”

The determination Barrios has shown on the road to recovery is something that people can expect from her in every aspect of her life.

“She loves what she’s doing and works very hard, so I think that helped as well,” Vincent said.

“I couldn’t even give you a thousandth of a doubt that she wasn’t going to come back from this and as well as she did.”

After redshirting in the 201112 season, Barrios is looking to

make a comeback this basketball season.

“I hope to get better and use what I learned from watching and being on the sidelines for the whole season,” Barrios said. “Hopefully I can get on the court this year and I can help my teammates reach the goal we have failed to do for two years straight, which is to get to the NCAA tournament.”

With the encouragement from her coaches and teammates, and more importantly the belief that Barrios has in herself, there seems to be no question that she will rebound from her injury this season.

“Jess being who she is, again a phenomenal student who works harder than anyone out there,” Vincent said. “You knew when she went down with it that she was going to come back from it.”

FENCING

Eighty-year-old fencing tradition continues at Appalachian State with club

By JESSE WARE

fencing drills and suiting up for live, electronically-scored fencFencing has been a ing against fellow club sport at Appalachian members.

“Our practices tend State University for over to range from around 80 years.

It’s a tradition the nine to 15 members ASU fencing club con- on average,” Fogletinues every Tuesday man said. “We’ve done and Thursday at 7 p.m. well with our growth recently and hope to in the Quinn Center.

“It’s the only sport continue that trend.”

The dynamics of the where you get to stab your friends,” said fenc- team have really helped ing club President Alex it grow.

“We’ll be talking and Fogleman. “It’s a good way to vent your frus- joking around one mintration, and a great way ute, but we always stay competitive,” said freshto stay in shape.”

The club’s practices man Chandler Jenkins.

Fencing is a sport that consist of stretching, Intern Sports Reporter

focuses on technique and quick decisionmaking.

“I just love the uniqueness of the sport and the kinds of people it attracts,” said Vice President Addison Miles.

“It’s not a prejudiced sport. I lost to a 68-yearold woman once.”

The sport, while remaining combative, is open to people of all walks of life.

“I joined the club because I wanted to continue doing something that I love,” said freshman Evan Zuercher.

“And I get to stab peoJustin Perry | The Appalachian ple with a stick.”

Members of the fencing club practice in the Student Recreation Center.

SWIMMING

Appalachian’s club swimming team continues making a splash on campus

by KAITLYN THRUSTON Senior Sports Reporter

While most students at Appalachian State are familiar with the handful of varsity sports the university offers, some may not know about the numerous club and intramural sports.

One of the club sports that is not often recognized is the Appalachian swim team.

The team is home to a variety of athletes who have joined because they love to swim or want to be part of a team.

“The swim team here at App State is a sports club,” said the team’s CoPresident Kristian Hellem. “It’s open to all students, with our current team ranging from beginners to retired varsity athletes.”

Becoming a member of the team

is open to any student interested in swimming.

“There are no tryouts, and we practice four times a week,” said Haley Lingle, the club’s practice chair. “But you can come to as few or as many of those practices as you would like.”

Swimmers attend around four meets every semester, one of which is held at Appalachian.

“Our meets this semester included University of Georgia, Florida State University, Miami University in Ohio and of course our home meet,” Lingle said.

Appalachian’s swim team is one of the strongest teams in the South, and they keep improving.

“We have beat Florida State on their home turf and dominated our own home meets, defending the App State

territory,” Hellem said.

Traveling to meets around the country has given the swimmers an opportunity to bond with one another and become a family, just like any other varsity sport on campus.

“Joining the club team helped ease the transition into college,” Lingle said. “Over the course of my freshman year my teammates became my best friends.”

The sense of community the swim team carries with them has shown to be unbreakable and seems to be the magic touch during swim meets.

“We all swim purely for the love of swimming,” Hellem said. “When a group of people come together, sharing one common passion, the bond is unbreakable.”

Each swimmer has a favorite part

of the sport, but a common thread between teammates is getting a win for themselves and Appalachian.

“Nothing feels better than looking at the scoreboard after a race and realizing you dropped time,” Lingle said. “I also love it when our relays win, which they do often, because you really get that team atmosphere.”

Every April, the Mountaineers travel to the East Coast Championship held at Georgia Tech. This three-day meet is the nationals for club swimming, with over 70 schools traveling to Atlanta to compete.

“Traveling together, making memories, seeing our nation as a team really brings us closer together as a family,” Hellem said. “These are the experiences that stay with us for the rest of our lives.”

The Appalachian

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

Matchup: vs.

November 29, 2012 |

Coaches prepare for playoff game

Malik Rahili & Andrew Clausen | The Appalachian

by ANNE BUIE

Illinois State vs. Appalachian State December 1, 2012 | 2 p.m.

Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, N.C.

by JORDAN DAVIS Sports Reporter

The Matchup For the eighth straight year, the Mountaineers have reached the FCS playoffs and will begin the journey for a fourth national title this Saturday against Illinois State.

Both teams have an 8-3 record.

Illinois State started the season strong by beating two Division 1 FBS Schools on the way to a 5-0 start.

However, the the Redbirds have struggled as of late, losing three of their final six games, finishing third in the Missouri Valley Conference.

This is the first meeting between the two schools, but App is 4-0 in playoff games against MVC teams.

How ASU can win Statistically, Appalachian’s advantage lies within offense for this game.

Appalachian ranks in four out of the five major offensive categories, 10th in total offense, 11th in passing efficacy, 14th in passing and 22nd in scoring.

ASU ranks 34th, outside the top 25, in rushing.

Compared to a year ago, Appalachian’s offensive output has increased by 19.6 percent, according to goasu. com.

However, the defense played arguably one of their best defensive games on Nov. 10 against Furman, when ASU allowed a season low of seven offensive points.

How Illinois State can win The Redbirds have enough talent on their team to not only win this game, but make a run in the playoffs.

Offensively they are lead by a four year starter and the MVC offensive player of the year, QB Matt Brown; as well as the Missouri Valley’s leading receiver, Tyrone Walker.

These two will probably look to connect on deep passes and big plays App has been susceptible to this year.

On defense they boast the Missouri Valley’s top tackler, Colton Underwood, and the nation’s leader in interceptions, safety Ben Ericksen.

Underwood is also top 10 in the nation with nine and a half sacks, so the mobility of Jackson could be tested.

If their secondary plays the way it has all season, this could be a very close game right until the end.

The Bottom Line Both teams are evenly matched with equal records and have a strong determination to win. Appalachian and Illinois State haven’t been in the playoffs for almost a year.

Neither team has played the other before, so both teams have the element of surprise on their side.

“Our players have played before in big stadiums and we really don’t bring it up to them,” said or the first time, Appala- Illinois State head coach Brock chian State and Illinois Spack. “It’s a football game and State will meet Saturday to our opponents are great ones, but play in the NCAA 2012 Division we try to make the most of it. It’s a game on the road, and it’s going I second round.

This marks Illinois State’s first to be a tough one, but I think our championship appearance since players are well aware of the tra2006, and Appalachian’s return dition and the magnitude of the game. I don’t reto the champially have to emonships since phasize it that 2011.

“We’re looking forward much. We’re “Last year, I don’t know that to it. It’s great honor for just going to we were all that us to be involved with a play our game and see where excited about game like this.” the chips falls.” being in the Moore said playoffs,” ASU Illinois State head coach Brock Spack he was excited head coach for the upcomJerry Moore ing game. said in a press “Well, like everybody else right conference. “This year, these guys, it just seems like is more of their now, we’re happy we are in the football team. They’re more ex- playoffs,” Moore said. “A tough cited about things, they’re more conference schedule and now in command. They’re excited to you’re looking at a whole new play… I have no idea how they’re scenario of us trying to win a going to play, but they’re excited National Championship. We’re looking forward to playing Illiabout playing here at home.”

Illinois State is 3-3 in six nois State… We’re excited about post-season games, whereas Ap- the opportunity to play.”

Spack said the team’s goal had palachian has a 17-8 record in home playoff games, according to been to win more away games.

“It’s a great honor to play a goasu.com.

But Illinois State is still look- program like Appy State, it’s a ing to play the game like any well-coached team with a great other football game, despite the tradition,” he said. “We’re looking championship being on the line forward to it. It’s great honor for and the fact that it’s an away us to be involved with a game like this.” game.

Managing Editor

F

Source: goasu.com

Appalachian vs.

Illinois State

File Photo | The Appalachian

Football players honored on coaches and media all-SoCon squads for the 2012 season

by ANNE BUIE

Managing Editor

Last week, 10 Appalachian football players were placed on the media’s all-SoCon squads, along with Appalachian being represented 12 times on the coaches’ allconference teams.

For the first time since 2006, one of Appalachian’s players received the first SoCon Freshman of the Year.

The award was given to wide receiver Sean Price, who has been compared to former Appalachian quarterback Armanti Edwards. Edwards received the award in 2006.

Price has only played in nine games, but he has managed to break all freshman records for Appalachian with 68 receptions, 1,029 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches, according to goasu.com Senior linebacker Jeremy Kimbrough was also recognized by the SoCon’s coaches as the league’s co-Defensive Player of the Year.

In addition, Kimbrough is a candidate for the 2012 Buck Buchanan Award, an award given to the nation’s top

Aneisy Cardo | The Appalachian

Four of the 14 All-Conference Players (L-R): Troy Sanders, Jeremy Kimbrough, Brandon Grier and Ronald Blair. Sanders and Blair received first-team media accolades while Grier received a secondteam selection and Kimbrough named coaches' co-Defensive Player of the Year.

FCS defensive player.

Cornerback Demetrius McCray was also honored for his defensive work, and was named a first-team defensive honoree for the coaches and media.

Punter Sam Martin also made the first-team

all-conference team by both the coaches and media.

A fifth of the coaches all-freshman team is Appalachian players, including Price, offensive lineman Shaq Counts, wide receiver Malachi Jones, defensive lineman

Stephen Burns and defensive lineman Davante Harris.

Running back Steven Miller, defensive lineman Ronald Blair and safety Troy Sanders earned first-team honors from the media and second-team recognition

PIGSKIN PICK’EM Weekend Matchups

from the coaches.

Wide receiver Andrew Peacock and linebacker Brandon Grier received second-team selections.

Finally, wide receiver Tony Washington was voted second-team return specialist by the coaches.

Southern Standings Conference Overall

Eric Barnes

Lauren Brigman

Whitney Howard

SGA (38-17)

WASU (37-18)

A.P.P.S. (41-14)

Vice-President

Station Manager

President

Bryan Terry

Kenneth Peacock

Greek Life (34-21)

Appalachian State (35-20)

IFC President

Chancellor

1. Appalachian State 2. Georgia Southern 3. Wofford 4. Chattanooga 5. Samford 6. Citadel 7. Furman 8. Elon 9. Western Carolina

#2 Alabama vs. #3 Georgia #13 Florida State vs.

Georgia Tech #11 Oklahoma vs.

TCU New Hampshire vs.

Wofford

7

(6-2) (6-2) (6-2) (5-3) (5-3) (5-3) (2-6) (1-7) (0-8)

(8-3) (8-3) (8-3) (6-5) (7-4) (7-4) (3-8) (3-8) (1-10)

Source: espn.com

Want to be a part of The Appalachain staff?

Email:

editor@theappalachianonline.com

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